Puzzle or game



A. WYNNE PUZZLE 08 GAME Oct. 20, 1925- Fil ed- Jan. 23, 1925 ISOUP I2NUT5 SOUP ISOHP ZSOHR SROHR' 4ROHD SROOD Patented (lot. 20, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR WYNNE, OF MOUNTAIN LAKES, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO KING FEATURES SYNDICATE, INQ, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PUZZLE 0R GAME.

Application filed January 23, 1925. Serial No. 4,136.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. Airrnifn IVYNNE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mountain Lakes, in the countyof Morris and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Im n'ovenients in Puzzles or Games, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in puzzles or games with words, and more particularly relates to an improvement or variation of the well known cross word puzzle and I have named this original form of puzzle a step-word puzzle for reasons which will be hereafter explained in detail.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 shows an outline of a design of a puzzle constructed according to my im proved design.

Fig. 2 shows the same puzzle with the wording supplied, but otherwise the same as in Fig. 1.

In this particular embodiment, I show a series of four (4) squares adjacent each other in horizontal rows, these rows being super-imposed upon each other as shown in the drawing so that three of the squares will be exactly perpendicular to three of the four squares in the row below or above, and the end square of each. series of four squares will be in staggered relation to the end square of the last adjacent series, so as to form a series of steps as illustrated in the drawings.

A keyword, such as Soup is used to begin the puzzle, each of the letters of said word being inserted into the row of four top squares. In the adjacent row just below the same letters as are used in the top row are inserted, except that one variation is permitted so that in the second row the word Soap will appear, in the third row, the word Soar and so on downward. At the fourth series of squares, a variation is made in the initial letter so that the last three letters in the third and fourth series will be the same. The letter R is then used in the three succeeding rows of squares, and another change is made at the next series of horizontal squares.

The object of the puzzle is without altering more than one letter from the preceding or succeeding row, to finish with a word having no relationship to the original word. Here in the original illustration, the beginning word was Soap and the final word was Nuts and furthermore it is possible to prescribe within limitations more or less narrow, just the letters which will be inserted in each series of squares.

For instance, it may be a condition of solving the puzzle, that the word of four letters inserted, must conform to a certain definition as in the ordinary cross-word puzzle. For instance, in the illustration given in the drawing, the definition of soap in Fig. 2 might be a detergent and of the word soar to fly. It will thus be seen that this stepword puzzle combines the attraction of the cross-word puzzle with additional features of its own.

It is also possible if desired, to have the final word, that is, the word in the lower series have a definite relationship to the beginning word of the puzzle and in another variation the final word and the beginning word could be identical.

It is possible to vary this puzzle in a number of ways without departing from the guiding principle thereof which is to begin with a word in a series of horizontal squares and repeat all of the letters ofsaid word except one in the next series, but all the time using standard English words and eventually arriving at a predestined word.

Having thus fully described my inven tion, what I claim is:

As an improved article of manufacture, a cross word puzzle card embodying a multiple series of stepped enclosures for the reception of letters, there being the same number of enclosures in each horizontal series, each series having thereon a letter to form a basic letter of the word to be placed in said series, each series to receive letters to form progressively from the top to the bottom series, different words.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my si gnature.

ARTHUR WYNNE- 

